New figures show 124,000 unemployed Australians were out of work for more than a year in January 2004, a massive jump of 6,000 people since December 2003.

'Detailed Labour Force' figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal that long term unemployment is still remains too high, with over 1 in 5 unemployed Australians spending more than a year out of work.

It is shocking that over half of the long term unemployed have been out of work for more than two years.

This is further evidence that Job Network is failing to stop the growth in long-term unemployment.

Data released last week by the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) shows that the ABS figures are just the just the tip of the iceberg, with over 378,000 people on unemployment benefits for more than 12 months , an increase of close to 30,000 since Howard was elected.

The Government’s ailing Job Network is simply not working for the long-term unemployed, with recent FOI documents showing that in April 2003 FaCS had concerns that stage 3 of the Job Network "can't adequately support the long term unemployed".

Australia’s unemployed need real job search assistance and welfare reform not empty promises.